What feature does the 2p orbital possess that runs directly through the nucleus?
Answer
Nodal plane
The $p$ orbitals, which are dumbbell-shaped, possess a characteristic structural feature known as a nodal plane. A nodal plane is defined as a plane cutting through the nucleus where the probability of finding the electron is exactly zero. For the $2p$ orbitals, this nodal plane runs directly through the nucleus, meaning that while the electron density is high in the two lobes on either side, the probability density precisely at the location of the nucleus itself drops to zero for that specific $p$ orbital. This feature is a fundamental structural characteristic that distinguishes $p$ orbitals from $s$ orbitals, which are spherical and have no such plane passing through the center.
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